Well everyone, I finally went on Tapped In and took and online course. I expected it to be very boring and sterile, but it was very personable and informative. I took the Tapped In Tricks and Tips session and it really helped me get a handle on how to use the site. I am now able to look at other buildings and join other groups. The world is suddenly clearer. Also, I found it really neat how this site encompasses that "Global Community," my instructor was typing all the way in New South Wales, Australia at 6:00 am on a Monday. That just blows me away! Plus, the amount of resources for my career that are just sitting there waiting to be used, and people to help me to use them. Just incredible!!! I also really enjoyed how cautious they are with the particular groups that users can join. For example, any of the groups that work with real students are more protected.
I think this will be a great tool for my career. I can't wait to learn how to get my students on here and learn from people around the globe.
Jackie
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Tech Task #9: The Review!!!
I have been asked to review a piece of software for my latest tech task. I chose SpongeBob Squarepants, TYPING: The SpongeBob Way. Now, when I think of SpongeBob ever, I get the chills, so when I think of him trying to teach me something, well you just don't want to know. This software was created by the Learning Company and is for ages 7 and up. Now I teach that age group and I know that they would not be able to use this software. The cons outweigh the pros 10 to 1 at least; here are a few.
Cons:
1. 2 parts of the 3 part of the software were not compatible with my MacBook
2 There was a lengthy, nonsense cartoon at the beginning of the game
3. The software often froze or kicked me off, having to sign in again
4. The games required a great deal of reading and listening to instruction (there were no written instructions that are at the level of a seven year old and this game does not cater to hearing impaired children)
5. The practice area was difficult for me to complete and challenged the typing that I was doing in high school
6. I found it odd that the tournament area housed the practice components and lessons and the practice area housed the more challenging components
7. The games were not self directed and used language that is not age appropriate for seven year olds (such as "congress")
8. The words and letters were small and difficult to read
9. The game focused on negative reinforcement by SpongeBob laughing at mistakes, even though the game includes stickers for positive reinforcement on lessons
10. The game uses language and abbreviations that only adults would understand. Such as at the end of the lesson when your score is calculated at "88% with a WPM of 22 and and AWPM of 17 meaning that your accuracy needs to be improved." (See, I didn't even get all of that!)
Pros
1. There are options
2. Kids like SpongeBob
3. There is a "Quit" button
Well I guess I lied, the score for this game was 10 to 3. Good for it. All in all I feel that this game is not appropriate for teaching young students to type. It does not allow them to master basic skills before moving on and moves on too quickly. The reading required and language used are not age appropriate. The game is not easy to maneuver through and does not give adequate instructions. When instructions are given they are too quick and difficult to understand. Students do not learn to spell or read with this program, they are just typing random letter combinations that do not make sense. Overall, SpongeBob is not educational and should not be used to promote educational tools.
I rate this game at a 1 out of 10. I give it a one for it's awesome ability to be turned off! Please, don't give it to your children.
Cons:
1. 2 parts of the 3 part of the software were not compatible with my MacBook
2 There was a lengthy, nonsense cartoon at the beginning of the game
3. The software often froze or kicked me off, having to sign in again
4. The games required a great deal of reading and listening to instruction (there were no written instructions that are at the level of a seven year old and this game does not cater to hearing impaired children)
5. The practice area was difficult for me to complete and challenged the typing that I was doing in high school
6. I found it odd that the tournament area housed the practice components and lessons and the practice area housed the more challenging components
7. The games were not self directed and used language that is not age appropriate for seven year olds (such as "congress")
8. The words and letters were small and difficult to read
9. The game focused on negative reinforcement by SpongeBob laughing at mistakes, even though the game includes stickers for positive reinforcement on lessons
10. The game uses language and abbreviations that only adults would understand. Such as at the end of the lesson when your score is calculated at "88% with a WPM of 22 and and AWPM of 17 meaning that your accuracy needs to be improved." (See, I didn't even get all of that!)
Pros
1. There are options
2. Kids like SpongeBob
3. There is a "Quit" button
Well I guess I lied, the score for this game was 10 to 3. Good for it. All in all I feel that this game is not appropriate for teaching young students to type. It does not allow them to master basic skills before moving on and moves on too quickly. The reading required and language used are not age appropriate. The game is not easy to maneuver through and does not give adequate instructions. When instructions are given they are too quick and difficult to understand. Students do not learn to spell or read with this program, they are just typing random letter combinations that do not make sense. Overall, SpongeBob is not educational and should not be used to promote educational tools.
I rate this game at a 1 out of 10. I give it a one for it's awesome ability to be turned off! Please, don't give it to your children.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Kudos Digital Internship!
I am sure some of you fine folks out there are already aware that I was part of the Digital Internship Project. This project allowed me to be mentored while integrating technology into my education internship, something that I truly recommend to any education student out there! Unfortunately, I just am not seeing that same enthusiasm with next years interns. I went to visit a group today and tell them of the wonderous adventures that technology could bring to them. They just didn't seem to interested. Listen up new teachers, technology, be it chalk or a smart board, is here to stay and you better know how to use it. It may just make the difference for one of your students or one of your classes someday. Technology is not the only way to go, but it is a big part of our society and we need to be able to teach it. To any of you out there that are attending the University of Regina's Education program and are going to go into intrenship think of these pros:
1. Free laptop for four months
2. Access to computer technology and mentors at the U of R beyond what regular interns would receive
3. A way to differentiate yourself from 300 others (The only interviews that I had were based on my use of technology with early childhood students)
4. Workshops and lots of them
5. Free food (This is not the most important, but interns are poor and a free meal here or there doesn't hurt!)
I really recommend that if you ever have an opportunity such as this to jump on it. I learned so much as an educator. I can do so many more interesting things with what I have learned than most teachers I know. Just do it!!!
1. Free laptop for four months
2. Access to computer technology and mentors at the U of R beyond what regular interns would receive
3. A way to differentiate yourself from 300 others (The only interviews that I had were based on my use of technology with early childhood students)
4. Workshops and lots of them
5. Free food (This is not the most important, but interns are poor and a free meal here or there doesn't hurt!)
I really recommend that if you ever have an opportunity such as this to jump on it. I learned so much as an educator. I can do so many more interesting things with what I have learned than most teachers I know. Just do it!!!
Monday, March 19, 2007
Tech Task
I recently listened to a podcast about the benefits of podcasting within the classroom and it's different applications. The podcast, Podcasts for Educators, Schools, schools, schools, by Dave Jobbings, highlighted various different podcasts on his show. Two were of students creating there own, one group from Maine, USA, and the other from Scotland. Another of the podcasts was a story corner and the last was a music lesson. Jobbings' very short podcast compiled great examples of who can use podcasts and why to use them. They are also a great way for educators to keep up on the profession. A very multifaceted tool indeed!
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
My Hot Potato
I just made this awesome Hot Potato Quiz. Maybe you'll see it soon on my major project!
Monday, March 12, 2007
My Eportfolio
Well everyone, my electronic portfolio is almost complete, and might I say, it was not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. I was worried that I would have to learn HTML all over again, and seeing as the last time I learned it, back in 2000, it didn't really make sense, I was a little worried this time. Thankfully, a means of creating a webpage visually as opposed to that "other" way, has made me capable of assembling my own online space that actually works and is esthetically pleasing. Plus Macromedia Dreamweave has that lovely split function that allows the creater to edit HTML and imagery at the same time, thus allowing me to learn code. This was a great experience. No doubt that I will continue with my own web spaces from here on it!
Enjoy the weather!
Enjoy the weather!
Did I hear that right?
Did you know that if you moved to Wascana View...
1. Your neighbours would respect you.
2. You would always get the first donut.
3. Your grass would always be green, and...
4. Your kids would start getting straight A's!
Um...
WOW...
Did you know that? No, I didn't either, but, the new Homes by Dundee radio commercials claim that this is so. I have also heard another commercial that is even more ridiculous than this one. Wait, could that be possible? YES!
Excuse my sarcasm here people but honestly, would moving into a new area of town really make your neighbours respect you? Or, would it make your grass green? OR, would it allow you to always get the first donut, implying that you would also become better than everyone at work as well? No, no and NO! Moving into a grotesquely huge and enormously expensive house would not make YOU any of these things because people create their own worth. You will only by respected for who you are and what you do, not what you live in or what you can buy.
Now my favourite part, if Wascana View can't make you a better person, why then will your kids start getting straight A's? Is this because the school they were at had such a different demographic that your kids were being ignored because of their lack of "need?" Or, was it because they chose to make friends with "lower educated" children that were not up to your standard? OR, and I could dance around this all day, but is it a race issue?
This commercial really hit home for me. It seemed to be aimed at, no, it was aimed at the upper middle class and the upper class, classes that I assume are not as racially diverse as that of the middle and lower classes. Hmmm. Which makes me wonder if living in this area has more to do with White Privelege than it does with anything else. Basically, your neighbours will most likely be white, your children will go to school with white children and everyone will be at the same demographic.
I actually taught at one of the newer schools in this area, and 6 out of 10 times, that is exactly what I saw.
And, lastly, no, your kids won't get straight A's because you moved them into the ritzy area of town, that depends on them and the quality of their teacher. If you would like to have your kids get straight A's help them with their homework, spend family time togeher, talk to their teacher, research a school. But please, don't listen to the radio and this horrible commercial!!!
1. Your neighbours would respect you.
2. You would always get the first donut.
3. Your grass would always be green, and...
4. Your kids would start getting straight A's!
Um...
WOW...
Did you know that? No, I didn't either, but, the new Homes by Dundee radio commercials claim that this is so. I have also heard another commercial that is even more ridiculous than this one. Wait, could that be possible? YES!
Excuse my sarcasm here people but honestly, would moving into a new area of town really make your neighbours respect you? Or, would it make your grass green? OR, would it allow you to always get the first donut, implying that you would also become better than everyone at work as well? No, no and NO! Moving into a grotesquely huge and enormously expensive house would not make YOU any of these things because people create their own worth. You will only by respected for who you are and what you do, not what you live in or what you can buy.
Now my favourite part, if Wascana View can't make you a better person, why then will your kids start getting straight A's? Is this because the school they were at had such a different demographic that your kids were being ignored because of their lack of "need?" Or, was it because they chose to make friends with "lower educated" children that were not up to your standard? OR, and I could dance around this all day, but is it a race issue?
This commercial really hit home for me. It seemed to be aimed at, no, it was aimed at the upper middle class and the upper class, classes that I assume are not as racially diverse as that of the middle and lower classes. Hmmm. Which makes me wonder if living in this area has more to do with White Privelege than it does with anything else. Basically, your neighbours will most likely be white, your children will go to school with white children and everyone will be at the same demographic.
I actually taught at one of the newer schools in this area, and 6 out of 10 times, that is exactly what I saw.
And, lastly, no, your kids won't get straight A's because you moved them into the ritzy area of town, that depends on them and the quality of their teacher. If you would like to have your kids get straight A's help them with their homework, spend family time togeher, talk to their teacher, research a school. But please, don't listen to the radio and this horrible commercial!!!
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